The National Cattlemen's Beef Association said it "will not support finalization of this proposed rule until Japan has completed its process and accepts beef from the United States.

"The United States has repeatedly called on Japan to open the border to U.S. beef, and the NCBA calls for this action simultaneously to allow imports of Japanese beef into the United States," it said.

The United States banned Japanese beef imports in September 2001 following the discovery of the first case of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in Japan.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Aug. 16 proposed easing the ban under certain conditions, including completely removing specified risk materials, such as spinal cords and brains, from carcasses.

Japan imposed its import ban on U.S. beef in December 2003 when the United States discovered its first mad cow case.

The Japan Times Weekly: Aug. 27, 2005
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